Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Jul. 04, 2015	Apr. 04, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 809,675	$ 853,762	$ 859,315	$ 874,694	$ 1,000,203	$ 978,665	$ 1,031,283	$ 946,292	$ 3,397,446	$ 3,956,443	$ 1,802,268
Segment operating income/(loss)	32,719	38,808	39,292	31,825	39,662	49,925	75,485	(564)	142,644	164,508	169,566
Income from operations before income taxes	84,737	502	9,602	3,939	73,580	27,090	50,078	(69,296)	98,780	81,452	163,678
Net income	85,875	(7,357)	4,937	1,824	68,788	15,954	34,575	(51,006)	85,279	68,311	108,967
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,446)	(1,730)	(1,857)	(1,715)	1,155	(1,636)	(1,818)	(1,797)	(6,748)	(4,096)	0
Net income attributable to Darling	$ 84,429	$ (9,087)	$ 3,080	$ 109	$ 69,943	$ 14,318	$ 32,757	$ (52,803)	$ 78,531	$ 64,215	$ 108,967
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.51	$ (0.06)	$ 0.02	$ 0.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.09	$ 0.20	$ (0.32)	$ 0.48	$ 0.39	$ 0.91
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ (0.06)	$ 0.02	$ 0.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.09	$ 0.20	$ (0.32)	$ 0.48	$ 0.39	$ 0.91
Cost of sales and operating expenses						$ 22,900	$ 24,300	$ 14,900	$ 2,654,025	$ 3,123,171	$ 1,339,819
Acquisition and integration costs	$ 500	$ 1,300	$ 1,200	$ 5,300	$ 2,400	$ 2,200	4,200	15,900	8,299	24,667	23,271
Inventory Adjustments							$ 5,000	44,800
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt			$ (10,600)						(10,633)	(4,330)	0
Foreign currency gains/(losses)								12,600	$ (4,911)	$ (13,548)	$ 28,107
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Redemption Premium Amount								$ 27,300
Income Tax Credits and Adjustments	$ 85,400				$ 67,400